Nonraveling knitted fabric



Feb. 13, 1940. K. MAIER NONRAVELING KNITTED FABRIC .Filed April 12, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 IA! YEN To? Feb. 13, 1940. K. MAIER NONRAVELING KNITTED FABRIC Filed April 12, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 F b. 13, 1940. K. MAIER 2,190,409 NONRAVELING KNITTED FABRIC Filed April 12, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 13, 1940. K. MAIER NONRAVELING KNITTED FABRIC Filed April 12, 1937' 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 13, 1940. K. MAIER 2,190,409

NONRAVELING KNITTED FABRI 0 Filed A ril 12, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 13, 1940. K. MAIER 2,190,409

. NONRAVELING KNITTED FABRIC Filed April 12, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Feb. 13, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,190,409 NONRAVELING KNITTED FABRIC Karl Maier, Meaux, France Application April 12,

1937, Serial No. 136,411

In France April 11, 1936- 5 Claims.

(Granted under the provisions of sec. 14, act of March 2, 1927; 357 0. G. 5)

The present invention relates to nonraveling hosiery and the manufacture thereof, and it is moreespecially applicable to articles made on a flat frame and more especially on a Cotton frame.

. Various systems of interlocking the loops have already been suggested for ensuring a special connection between them and thus obtaining a practically nonraveling article. But these suggestions involve serious drawbacks in that they 'permit of obtaining the desired result only to a limited degree because the articles knitted according to these methods no longer have the smooth aspect of ordinary knitted goods and lose the elasticity which characterizes knitted goods, or because the carrying out of these methods calls for a fitting of the frame with devices which are difficult to adapt to said rectilinear frames and in particular to the Cotton frame, whereby said methods cannot be used for practical purses.

The knitted fabric according to the present invention is free from the first mentioned drawback in that it has a smooth appearance while keeping a satisfactory elasticity.

Furthermore, the manufacture of the knitted fabric requires but an easy modification of the frame. For instance the latter may be completed on the one hand by an auxiliary presser member, disposed parallelly to the usual pressure member, which is kept without any modification in its form or its operation, on the other hand by a series of small blades or swinging parts disposed opposite each needle, between the latter and the usual presser member, said swinging parts being carried by the frame of the knocking over bits. Furthermore, the knocking over bits are subjected to a slight modification in order to create behind the existing throat a notch or second throat. This particular arrangement of the frame, which can easily be provided'has not the above mentioned drawback and it permits a practical construction and use.

" Among other methods suggested for the obtainment of a nonraveling knitted fabric, it is known to make use of two yarns of different lengths, employed both in each course (that is to say in each horizontal line of loops). One of the yarns, the longer one, forms, on the outer face of the fabric, loops for all needles, and this in the usual manner. On the contrary, the second yarn, the shorter one, forms loops only on some needles, leaving a stretched portion from one loop to the other opposite the According to-the presentlnvention, the long yarn which is included ineach course of loops intermediate needles;

is sunk and shaped in such manner as to constitute alternately, from one wale of loops to the other (the word wale designating the vertical lines of loops) a long loop extending over two successive courses of loops and a short loop 5 formed on the first of the two above mentioned courses of loops. The short yarn is sunk in such manner as to constitute on the other hand a retaining loop for the long loop above mentioned and on the other hand in the next course a loop 10 which is superposed to the short loop constituted by the long yarn.

In other words, the long yarn forms in each course, alternately, a long loop and a short loop, and the short yarn forms, alternately, a loop 15 which is juxtaposed to the short loop constituted.

by the long yarn and an ordinary loop which retains the long loop formed by the long yarn.

It follows that the knitted fabric made according to this method has a connection not only in the 0 horizontal and. vertical directions but also diagonally, which has for its effect to eliminate the injurious action of a longitudinal pull exerted parallelly to the wales of loops, whereas the action of a transverse pull, that is to say along a 5 course of loops is remedied by the double length of the long loops extending over two courses of loops, It is therefore clear that the article knitted according to this process cannot ravel at all, 3 an advantage which is particularly advantageous in the case of stockings or similar articles.

It is clear that this system involves various embodiments. This results from the fact that the long loop formed by the long yarn can extend over-any number of courses of loops, for instance three successive courses. Furthermore, it is possible to insert between the alternate courses of long and short loops (the long loops extending over two successive courses), a course of smooth 40 short loops ln which all the needles form short loops with a short yam. In such an arrangement, I obtain a pattern similar tothat of the Jacquard, the double loops (two juxtaposed loops) ,which project with respect to the simple smooth loops, forming patterns. Of course, stead of a single course of smooth loops, I may interpose a great number-of courses of said loops, in such manner'that'other patterns appear on the right side of the knitted fabric.

Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of some specific embodiments thereof.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference 5 to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 shows the back side of knitted fabric;

Fig. 2 shows the back side of a knitted fabric manufactured according to the present invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 show, on the back side, modifications of knitted fabrics made according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, opposite a needle, showing the arrangement of the diiferent members necessary for carrying out the present invention;

Figs. 6 and '7 are views, analogous to Fig; 5, some parts being in a different position;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the auxiliary presser member;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a knocking over bit modified according to the invention;

. Fig. 10 is a perspective diagrammatical view showing how the elements shown by Fig. 5 are controlled;

Figs. 11 to 24 are diagrammatical views illustrating the difierent steps of the manufacture of the knitted fabric according to the present inan ordinary yention.

Adverting to Fig. 5, the drawings show the elements of a fiat frame of the Cotton type, to

wit: the needle I, looping sinker 2, knocking over I bit 3, presser member 4.

According to the present invention, the frame is completed by a second presser member, or auxiliary presser 5, and by a series of small blades or swinging parts 6. Each of these blades is located opposite a needle and can pivot about axis 1 in the direction of arrow F under the action of the presser member 5 and against the action of spring 8. The axis I is carried by the frame 1a of the knocking over bits.

The drive of the presser member 5 is obtained in the following manner:

. Arms 9 (Figs. 5 and 10) connectpresser member 5 to levers I0 keyed on a shaft II. This shaft II is subjected to the action of a cam I2 throughthe .medium of the lever I3, pivoted at I4. This lever I3 is articulated'at I5 to a. link I5 which is pivotally connected at I8 to a lever I1 keyed on shaft II, so that said shaft II is given a reciprocating oscillatory motion which produces the forward and rearward movement of the presser member 5, which thus acts on blades 6 for tipping them in the direction of arrow F.

Shaft I is further subjected to a translatory movement in the direction of its axis, said movement being produced by the action of a wedge am l9 acting upon roller 20. This cam I9 is displaced vertically by the action of the cam 2|, fixed at 180 with respect to cam I2 on the same shaft 22. The movement is transmitted through arm 23, pivoted at 24, connected through its end a 25 with the link and lever structure 26-21,

. articulated at 28, lever 21 being keyed on shaft '29 and driving cam 30 in connection with roller.3| the support of which is connected through a link transmission 3233 with the cam I9 capable of sliding in slideway 34. A spring 35 ensures the return of shaft II and keeps roller 20 in contact with cam I9.

g 01 course, the connection between shaft I I and lever I1 is such as to permit the free sliding in the longitudinal direction 'of said shaft A disc 36, on which roller 31 runs normally, is juxtaposed to cam 2| and a suitable control permits of displacing lever 23 laterally for bringing roller 31 intoa position in which it runs on cam 36, in order to bring into action cam 30 and thus to produce the translatory motion of shaft II.

The control of roller 31 can be carried out as follows:

A lever 38 is pivoted at 39 and is connected to a shaft 40 at one of the ends of which there is pivotally mounted a bell crank lever 4|, pivoted at 42. The arm 43 of this lever can be lifted by a boss 44 carried by an endless chain 45 which is given a suitable translatory movement.

As it will be readily understood, boss 45, when meeting arm 43, causes lever 38 to pivot against the action of return spring 46, in such manner that roller 31 is brought into coaction with cam 2| (Fig. 10).

The auxiliary presser member 5 (Fig. 10) has its front edge (on the side carrying swinging members 6) provided with teeth as it is visible on the plan view of Fig. 8. The pitch of these teeth is such that opposite the respective swinging members 6, there .is alternately a tooth 48 and a hollow 49.

. Swinging members 6 each terminated, as shown by Fig. 5, by a nose 50 arranged opposite the usual presser member 4. It is through these noses 50 that the needles are pressed, that is to say that the ends of their beards are driven into their eyes.

According to the invention, and in addition to the new members above described, the knocking over bits 3 (Fig. 9) are of particular shape in that they are completed by a throat 5|, provided behind the ordinary throat 52 and in line with If, in such a knitted fabric, a yarn is broken, for

instance at a: (as a result of a hole in a stocking or similar article), the lateral pull exerted in directions 0, d (parallel to the courses of loops) and the longitudinal pull in directions e, f (parallel to the vertical wales of loops), these pulls being generally produced merely by the natural play of the muscles of the leg when walking, it is noted that the stocking ravels upwardly and downwardly, in directions 1' and e.

In order to prevent ralveling of a knitted article it is therefore necessary to eliminate or to render harmless both the action of the longitudinal pull (direction ef) and the actionof the transverse pull (direction cd). According to the invention,

this double result is obtained in the following manner, as'shown by Fig. 2:

Considering yarn y, it is seen that, inv the course, this yarn is shaped in such manner as to constitute at h a small loop, in the next wale a long loop 2' and again a small loop h and so on, that is to say alternately a small and .a long loop.

This alternative provision of small and long loops exists not only in the direction of the courses but also in the direction of the wales.

For instance, it will be. noted that yarn'g is shaped in such manner as to constitute a long loop 2' in line with the small loop 71. and-a small loop h in line with the long loop 2'.

The small loops h or II. are formed by two yarns, to wit yarn g or g and the yarn m or 112.

I which further acts as retaining loop or o for the long loops 1? and i Thus it is seen that the sinker loops k extend diagonally between each double loop, that is to say connect loops )1. to

versepull or traction (direction cd).

As a matter of fact, when a hole is made which causes a yarn to break, the long needle loop 1' I course that is'to say (Fig. 11) the double loop in,

cannot slide through the short retaining loop 0, which is located below it because yarn m, which constitutes this retaining loop 0, undergoes at the same time a stretching due to the lateral elongation in direction cd and because no other expansion of long yarn g which constitutes the long loops iis possible, whereby a portion of long loop i, which is not subjected to a pull remains suspended in the short loop 0, which has just undergone a stretching.

I have thus eliminated .the detrimental action of the longitudinal pull or traction in direction ej on long loop 2', which has now become free upwardly (direction J) due to the breaking of the loop in the preceding course, because the short yarn m, of which the short retaining loop 0 is made, said loop 0 being located below the long loop 12 that has become free, forms with the long yarn g, of which. the long loop i is made, the short double loop 71. disposed directly adjacent as well the long loop 1'. as the short loop 0 disposed below the latter, the yarn m being consequently disposed diagonally. This diagonal connection causes the whole of the longitudinal pull or traction to act upon the short retaining loop 0 which has still a full connection and the short yarn m of which undergoes in fact no other longitudinal pull or traction in direction cf, whereas the free long loop i is wholly discharged as a result of the excess of yarn it has with respect to loop 0 located under it and therefore remains suspended'in loop 0 as if by a knot. I

Fig. 2 also shows that, despite the arrangement of yarns m and g, of different lengths,

there can never be produced an excess of yarn projecting from-the knitted fabric, and as well the long yarn g as the short yarn m are utilized for forming loopsin all the wales in such .manner that there exists in the knitted fabric no loose yarn.

Diagrams 11 to 24 illustrate how the above knitted fabric described with reference to Fig. 2, can be produced on the Cotton frame.

On these diagrams I have shown two series of figures on the one hand Figures 11 to 17, on the other hand Figures 18 to 24; the first series of figures shows the different steps of. the manufacture ofa wale of loops, for instance wale p (Fig. 2); the other series of figures shows, in correspondence with the first series, the same different steps for a wale of loops adjacent to the preceding one, that is to say for waleq.

Figs. 11 and-l8 show the needle I of wale p and the needle Ia of wale q, supplied with the yarn m which has just been distributed and has been shaped by sinkers 2. One sees on the knocking over bits 3 the loops of the preceding and (Fig. 18) the long loop i. J The needles fitted with the yarn m thus move downas shown by Figs. 12 and 19.

upon swinging members 6 In an ordinary frame, in the course of this downward movement, the needles are all pressed, that is to say the beards of said needles, when meeting with the front edge of the presser member, are driven into the eyes of said needles, but it has been explained above that the frame is fitted with an auxiliary presser member 5 actin and it was also explained that this presser member 5 is toothed and consequently acts upon every second swinging member.

It follows that, during the downward move-.

ment of the needles, only needle I will be pressed,

as shown by Fig. 12, whereas needle Ia will move downwardlywithout being pressed (Fig. 19). Needle I is pressed as a consequence of the fact that presser member 5 (Fig. 5) has been given a forward movement in the direction of arrow F, this movement being produced by the action of the cam I2, Fig. 10.

The general view of Fig. 5 shows the elements of the frame whenneedle I is pressed by the'action of the auxiliary presser member 5.

In the course of this downward movement, the

- yarn g, which constitutes the long loop i, penetrates under the beard of needle Ia and comes adjacent the yarn m precedingly hooked (Fig.

On the contrary, as shown by Fig. 13, the double loop 11. has been normally knocked over on the yarn m and this in the supplementary throat 5|, created for this purpose in the knocking over bits 3. Yarn 111. thus forms the loop 0 which will act asretaining loop for the long loop i in. the next course.

Needles I and la move back upwardly and come to hook the yarn 9 serving to constitute the next course. This yarn g is distributed of a length greater than the length of yarn m precedingly distributed.

Figs. 14 and 21 show the yarn g caught respectively by needles I and la after said yarn has been sunk by sinkers 2. It will be noted (Fig. 21) that yarn m at the place of needle la. is carried by the nib 53 of the bit 3, whereas the sinker loop of the needle loop 1' is engaged in the usual throat 52.

In Fig. 14, it is seen that loop 0 is placed under the throat 52 of-bit 3, this in the usual manner. The yarn m (Fig. 21) has remained on the nib 53 as a consequence of the fact that no knocking over of the loop has taken place; it is maintained in this position by needle Ia.

Yarn g being locked in by needles I and la,

the latter move downwardly.

In the course of this movement, all the needles are pressed by the action of the ordinary presser member 4, which acts as shown by Fig. 'I on the nose 50 of each swinging part 6 (the comparison between Fig. 6, which shows the knocking over bit frame la in the position of rest, and Fig. 7, which shows this frame at the time of the action of the presser member 4, clearly shows how this action of pressing the needles takes place through the medium of the swinging members 6);.

7 The needles further move downwardly and the preceding loop of every wale is knocked over, these preceding loops being loop for yarn g (Fig/l6) and loop 2' for yarn g.

In the course of the knocking over movement, it is known that hits 3 are displaced with a translatory movement in the direction of arrow F (Figs. 17 and 24).

In the course of this translatory movement of the bits, the throats 52 of said bits push in the direction of the arrow F the course of loops precedingly established, that is to say the short loops 0 (Figs. 16 and 17) and the long loop i (Figs. 23 and 24).

As it will be readily understood, this translatory displacement of the bits 3 differently bends needles I and la. As a matter of fact, needle I, which has locked in only the yarn g distributed in a loose manner, pulls on this yarn and forms a long loop i (Fig. 1'7), while needle Ia, which has locked in at the same time the yarn g distributed long and yarn m distributed short, is driven by the latter and as a consequence of this traction and due to its flexibility said needle is brought into the position shown by Fig. 24.

The excess of long yarn g distributed opposite needle la, is therefore absorbed and permits consequently the formation of the long loop 2' on needle I.

, As a result of the translatory displacement of the knock over bits, the yarn g is therefore suit-.

' ably distributed and stretched on the needles I and, I a, as shown by Fig. 2, and the loop of yarn g which constitutes the double loop h is of the same length as the loop of yarn m which also constitutes the double loop h In the next row, the cycle is repeated but the needles Ia will work in the manner above described with reference to needles I and the latter will work in the manner above described with reference to needles Ia.

This change of function of the. needles is determined by the action of the presser member which is displaced in the direction of. its longitudinal axis, as above explained, by the action of the cam 2| and of cam I9. The length of this displacement is of course equal to.the width of the teeth 48 of presser member, in such manner that teeth instead of being located opposite needles I are now located opposite needles Ia. Fig. 3 shows, seen on the back side, a nonraveling knitted fabric which can be obtainedaccording to the present invention.

As shown by this figure, it is possible to choose the arrangement of the yarns in such manner that the needle I of the wale p, after having formed the double short loop 11., as shown by Fig. 2, that' is to say with yarns m and g, forms a loop I with yarn n distributed a little longer than yarn m, but shorter than yarn 9, whereas needle In of course q is not pressed and thus forms a loop which will be knocked over at the same time.

as the long loop i of the wale q on the double I loop h constituted by yarns m and g With this arrangement, the long'loops i are, as clearly shown, longer than the loops 2' precedingly obtained as shown by Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 relates to another embodiment of nonraveling knitted fabric in which there is interposed between the long loop z' and the double short loop h (Fig. 2) a smooth course of simple loops.

This knitted fabric is obtained in the following manner: After having made loop 71. on the needle'l of walep, I distribute a short yarn r form patterns.

with which are formed short loops, as shown at s, and this for each wale p and q.

Then I distribute the yarn m as shown by Fig. 2, and a new long yarn g and so on. In such an arrangement, I obtain a pattern similar to a Jacquard pattern as a consequence of the fact that the double loops h project, with respect to the smooth loops s and o and thus Of course, it is possible to introduce at will a great number of courses of simple loops by distributing yarns 1 over as many courses as it is desired, in such manner that other patterns always appear on the right side of the knitted fabric.

It. wilLbe readily understood that it is possible to make knitted fabrics according to any desired arrangement and in particular according to those illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4, with the elements above described, with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 10. As a matter of fact, the looping is a function partly of the movement of the auxiliary presser member 5 and this movement can be modified at will through the action of cams I2 and 2I, which can be brought into play at the proper time.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and eflicient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition 'and form of the parts without departing from l. A nonraveling knitted fabric including a plurality of successive horizontal courses of loops forming vertical wales, in which fabric at least some courses include, at least in some of their loops, two yarns, a long yarn and a short yarn, the long yarn forming in each of said last mentioned courses, alternately from one wale to the next one, a short loop corresponding to the height of one course and a long loop corresponding to the height of at least twocourses, and the loops of long yarns in each vertical wale being alternately a long loop and a short loop, in such manner that the long loops are arranged in staggered relationship, the short yarn forming alternately in one wale a short loop superposed to a short loop of the long yarn, then, in the next wale and the preceding course, a short loop interposed, in the vertical direction, between a short loop and a long loop of long yarns, these second mentioned short loops of short yarn being adapted to retainand along loop corresponding to the height of at least two courses, the loops of long yarns in each vertical wale being alternately a long loop and a short loop, in suchmanner that the long loops are arranged in staggered relationship, the

short yarn forming alternately in one wale a short loop superposed to a short loop of the long yarn, then, in the next wale and the preceding course, a short'loop interposed, in the vertical direction, between a short loop and a long loop of long yarns, these second mentioned short loops of short yarn being adapted to retain and fix the long loops of long yarn, 3. A nonraveling knitted fabric including a plurality of successive horizontal courses of loops forming vertical wales, in which fabric every second course includes two yarns, a long yarn and a short yarn, the long yarn forming, in the direction of said courses, alternately from each wale to the next one, a short loop corresponding to the height" of one course and a long loop correspoding, to the height of two courses, the loops of long yarn in each vertical wale being alternately a long loop and a short loop, in such maner that the long loops are arranged in staggered relationship, the short yarn forming, alternately, in one wale a short loop superposed to a short loop of the long yarn, then, in the next wale and the preceding course, a short loop interposed, in the vertical direction, between a short loop and a long loop of long yarn, thesesecond mentioned short loops of short yarn being adapted to retain and fix the long loops of long yarn, whereby ravelingis prevented, the successive loops in each vertical wale being, a short double loop of long yarn and short yarn, a short single loop of short yarn, and a long single loop of long yarn, and n so on.

4. A plurality of successive horizontal courses of loops forming vertical wales, in which some courses include two yarns, a longyarn and a short yarn, the long yarn forming, in the direction of said courses, alternately from each wale to the next one, a short loop corresponding to the height of one course and a long loop corresponding to the height of three courses, the-loops of long yarn in each vertical long loop and a short loop, in such manner that the long loops are arranged in staggered relationship, the short yarn forming, alternately, in one wale a short loop superposed to a short loop of long yarn, then, in the next wale and the preceding course, a short loop interposed, in the vertlcal direction, between a short loop and a long whereby raveling is prevented.-

nonraveling knitted fabric including a wale being alternately a I loop of long yarn, these second mentioned short loops of short yarn being adapted to retain and fix in position the long loops of long yarn whereby raveling is prevented, other courses interposed between theabove mentioned courses, consisting of a third yarn longer than the above mentioned short one and shorter than the above mentioned long one, forming, alternately, a short loop which interlocks a double loop of the adjacent row with a short retaining loop of short yarn, and a long loop superposed to the end of the corresponding long loop of long yarn, the successive loops in each vertical wale being, a short double loop of long and short yarns, a short loop of third yarn, a short loop of short yarn, yarn, and so on.

5. A nonraveling knitted fabric including a' plurality of successive horizontal courses of loops forming vertical wales, in which fabric some courses include two yarns, a long yarn and a short yarn, the long yarn forming, in the direction of said courses, alternately from each wale to the next one a short loop corresponding to the height of two courses, the loops of long yarns in each vertical wale being alternately a long loop and a short loop, in such manner that the long loops are arranged in staggered relationship, the short yarn forming alternately, in one wale, a short loop superposed to a short loop of long yarn, then, in the next wale and the preceding course, a short loop interposed, in the verticahdirection, between a short loop and a long loop of long yarn, these second mentioned short loops of short yarn being adapted to .retain and fix the long loops of long yarn, whereby ravelling is prevented, and a third yarn forming alternately, in the direction of the courses. in one wale a short loop interposed, in the vertical direction, between a long loop of long yarn and a short loop of long yarn, and, in the next wale and the preceding course, a short loop interposed, in the vertical direction, between a double short loop of short and long yarns and a short loop of short yarn, the successive loops in each vertical wale being a short double loop of long and short yarns, a short loop of third yarn, a short loop of short yarn, a long loop of long yarn, a short loop of third yarn, and so on..

and along loop of long KARIIMAIER. o 

